SHO suspended for beating auto-driver in Bihar’s Sheikhpura

An SHO was suspended in Bihar’s Sheikhpura district for beating an e-rickshaw driver. The driver alleged that the police officer used casteist remarks against him and that he was forced to spit on the ground and lick it. Action has been taken against the SHO after a video of the incident went viral on social media.

The incident took place on Monday (June 30, 2025) at around 7.30 p.m. when Pradyuman Kumar, was returning from Mehus village after dropping a passenger. He said that SHO Praveen Chandra Diwakar, who was on a bullet bike in civilian clothes, stopped the auto driver after there had been some delay in giving side to his bullet.

“I was not aware of who was behind me. He was continuously honking but there was no space on the road to move aside. When he got space and overtook my vehicle, he stopped the bike and abused me asking whether I couln’t hear the horn of his bike. Then, he called a police jeep. When they came, he took a stick from the vehicle and beat me,” Mr. Kumar said while speaking to the media at the government hospital where he has been hospitalised for treatment.

He further said, “The SHO then asked a constable to smell my mouth to check whether I was drunk or not. After this, the SHO asked the constable to sit in my auto and they took me to the police station. At the police station he hit me using sticks. He asked what my caste was and continued beating me. Then he asked me to spit and lick it.”

On Tuesday, the victim’s family met local Barbigha MLA Sudharshan Kumar and complained about Mr. Diwakar. The MLA called Sheikhpura Superintendent of Police (SP) Baliram Kumar Choudhary and urged him to take action against Mr. Diwakar.

He strongly condemned the incident asserting that police officers should behave properly with common citizens and added that inhuman acts would not be tolerated. Mr. Choudhary assured the MLA that appropriate action would be taken after proper investigation.

During the investigation, the police denied that any casteist remarks were used by the SHO. They also denied that Mr. Diwakar forced the victim to lick his own spit. However the beating was found to be true.

Explaining the police action on Wednesday, Sheikhpura ASP Rakesh Kumar said, “A serious allegation was made against Mehus SHO of beating a person, Pradyuman Kumar. We investigated the matter and found the incident to be true. The police officer’s acts are not acceptable. I found him guilty. So, he has been suspended with immediate effect.”

He added that the victim’s family member will lodge a formal complaint, based on which further disciplinary action would be taken against the SHO. When asked about the allegations on casteist remarks and licking spit, Mr. Kumar denied the charges.